Kenya’s Junior Starlets will face off against Namibia’s Baby Gladiators at the UNAM Stadium in Windhoek in the first leg of their World Cup qualifying campaign, with kickoff slated for 4pm East African Time.
The Junior Starlets arrive in Windhoek on a mission of redemption. After making history with a debut 2024 World Cup appearance, Kenya suffered a painful exit in the 2025 qualifiers at the hands of Cameroon and are now determined to reclaim their spot on the global stage.
Namibia, playing at home, enters the tie as the dark horse of the region, having spent the last month in an intensive training camp aimed at upsetting the East African powerhouses and securing a first-ever qualification.
This match marks a historic first-ever meeting between Namibia and Kenya at the U-17 level, as the two nations have never faced each other in any official it unofficial capacity in this age category.
Team News
Kenya’s head coach Mildred Cheche has traveled with a squad that prioritizes continuity, led by captain Bevarline Awuor. The Starlets will rely on the experience of World Cup veterans Lindey Weey Atieno and Brenda Awuor to lead the team.
However, they will need to find a way to replace the clinical edge of scoring lost from last year’s transition, placing high expectations on rising star Tabitha Wambui.
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Namibia will be without several key players due to school commitments, but coach Woody Jacobs has already integrated some of the players who have already featured for senior teams like Tunga Ndiweteko, the Arrows Ladies goalkeeper and Nancy Lebang a V Power Angels forward who featured in the 2026 COSAFA Senior Women’s Championship.
Pre Match Talk
Namibia – Woody Jacobs
On his part, Namibia coach Woody Jacobs expressed confidence in his side’s preparation and their ability to defend on home turf.
“We are not intimidated by Kenya’s pedigree. We have been working hard on our defense and set-pieces. We know they are fast and will try to use their wingers but we have a plan to neutralize them. In Windhoek, we play to win, and we want to take a lead to Nairobi,” Jacobs added.
On her part ,Mildred Cheche speaking during the final training session on Saturday acknowledged that Namibia is a relatively new opposition to them but having players who featured in previous years will be an added advantage.
“We have never played Namibia before, and even if we were to look at their previous results, it is difficult to judge because the U17 team changes every year. We are taking one game at a time so after playing them away, we can now be able to tell how they play. The players that we retained like Lindey Weey make it easier because they already know the philosophy and the strategies and also help others to settle,” she stated.
The return leg of this encounter is scheduled for Saturday, April 18 at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.
The aggregate winner of this tie will advance to the second round, where a daunting regional derby awaits against either Zimbabwe or Uganda. With the second round first-leg matches set for May 22-24.
